Is flexible packaging not premium?

Flexible packaging has quickly become a popular choice among consumers and consumer goods producers due to its cost efficiency and convenience. However, lack of sustainability and low premium appeal are hindering the growth of the flexible packaging segment, signaling a need for manufacturers to invest in addressing these issues, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData.

The company’s report states that flexible packaging is one of the fastest-growing packaging sectors, driven by increased focus across all links of the supplier chain on convenience and value, and has grown with a compound annual growth rate of 3.3% between 2010 and 2015. This is forecast to reach 4.1% between 2015 and 2020.

However, according to GlobalData’s recently conducted executives survey, 32% of 77 business leaders surveyed responded that the popularity of glass poses the biggest threat to flexible packaging. One of the primary factors contributing to this preference is glass’s recyclability, with 56% of survey respondents believing improved sustainability would increase the popularity of flexible packaging. Additionally, sustainability practices such as recycling not only enhance the image of a business, but also improve financial returns through the use of cheaper recycled materials. Glass packaging is also more likely to be associated with superior quality and craftsmanship.